Humidifying device



Get. 9, 1934.

c. 0. WILSON I HUMIDIFYING DEVICE Filed Dec. 19, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet l awe/rm Clldr les 0. 14 1760 0st. 9, 1934. c. 0. WILSON HUMIbIFYING DEVICE Filed Dec. 19, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 J (liar/es 0. h I/Jon we fig w Oct. 9, 1934. Q Q. wlLSCN 1,976,054

HUMIDIFYING DEVICE Filed Dec. 19, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 awe/WM I Chdr/es 0. Milson M fi w a Patented Oct. 9, 1934 UNITED TATES PATENT OFFICE ,HUMIDIFYING DEVICE Charles 0. "Wilson, Muskegon, Mich.

Application December19, 1932, Serial No. 647,932

7 Claims. (Cl. 126-113) The present invention relates to humidifying devices and more particularly to humidiiying devices of the character employed in conjunction with hot air furnaces.

:- The main objects of the invention are to provide such a device wherein water'for humidifying the air may be always available during the operation of the furnace; to provide a humidifying device that is simple in construction; to provide such a device which may be readily and-conveniently installed; and, to provide such a device which is economical to manufacture.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, .in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional view on line 'l-1 of Figure 2, showing a top plan View of the humidifying device installed and mounted within the hot air chamber of a'hot air furnace;

Figure 2 is likewise a sectional view of the device within the furnace on line '2--2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the humidifying device per se on line 3-3 of Figure 4;

Figure 4 is a sectional v'iew thereof on line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure '5 is a vertical central sectional view of a modified form of spray head on line -5-5 of Figure 6;

Figure 61s a horizontal sectional view on line '66 of Figure 5;

Figure '7 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the modified construction shownlin Fig ures 5 and 6 with the adjustable-shutter in a difierent position than that shown in Figure 5;

Figure 8 is another modified former the spray head partly broken away and taken on a line corresponding to line-8--8 OfFigure Q;

Figure 9 is a sectional View thereof on line 99 of Figure 8;

a Figure 10 is a fragmentary view-of the construction shown in Figure 8-showingthe telescoping head in adjustableabuttingengagement with its supporting base head and closing :thespray emitting windows or openings; and v Figure 11 is a view similar to that of Figure 10 but showing the telescoping head in adjustable spaced relation to the base head: and thus opening the spray emitting windows.

Referring to the drawings which like parts 3., are designated by the same numerals inthe several views, a hot air furnace of theconve ntional type and generally designated 10, is provided with the usual hot air chamber 11 and customary hot air conduits 12 leading to the rooms ofthe'build- .-.ing in which the furnace may be installed.

Within the hot air chamber of the fiu'nace is disposed and mounted the humidifying device which comprisesa hollow spray head 13, cylindrical in form and having a pair of water emitting windows or openings 14 intermediate its 01 ends.

A water inlet conduit 15 leading from an outside water supply source 16 connects with a union 1'7 provided with ducts 18, 19 and 20. The duct 20 leads to the-spray nozzle 21 mounted uponthe screw cap '22 which closes'the bottom of the cylindrical sprayhead, said cap having a'plurality of apertures 23 for purposes hereinafter mentioned, and the upper end of the cylindrical spray head is closed by a screw cap 24 through which is ax ial- 7o ly'threaded a baiile 25 vertically adjustably movable by the manually operable handle26 for controlling and assisting the spraying of the water through the windows 14. A fine mesh tubular screen 27 is disposed within the cylindrical housing'andassists in the spraying of the water passing through the windows 14.

Mounted beneath the spray head and here shown as suspended therefrom by means of the double end threaded stud 28 is a drip pan 29 whose outer end is integrally formed with the closure plate 30 adapting the device for ready in-' stallationwithin'the furnace by cutting-an opening through its outer-casing and sealing the opening after insertion of the device within the furnace hot air chamber by bolting the closure plate to the furnace, as best shown in Figure 2. The drip pan preferably slopes toward the outer I end of the furnace and is provided withawell 31 for accumulating the water drip upon the pan; particularly the water dripping to the pan from the'cylindrical spray head through the apertures 23 of screw cap 22. g

A float 32 within the water well is pivotally suspended on the vertically disposed rod 33 from the horizontally disposed rod 34 whose other end is pivotally'connected to the'laterally-projecting bifurcated arm 35. Closing the duct 19 from the duct 20 is a needle valve 36 normally open against the tension of the helical spring 37 when the fur- 109 nace is in operation and a'plunger 38 formaintaining the valve open against the spring is adapted to abut the depending finger 39 attached to the pivotal connection between the rod 34 and its arm 35 when the float within the well is in its lowered position.

In operation, when the furnace is operating the water is permitted to flow from the source of water supply 16 by "opening a valve, not shown, through the conduit 15, thence through the ducts 18, 19 and 20 and out through the nozzle 21. The water in leaving the nozzle is caused to contact the vertically adjustable baiile 25 which effects a spray which spray is further elfected by the screen 2'7 as it passes through the windows 14 and into the hot air chamber 11 to humidify the air therein. During the spraying operation a portion of the water will settle in the bottom of the cylindrical spray head 13 and drip through the apertures 23 to the drip .pan 29. "If this drip is fast enough and water on the pan does not quickly evaporate, it will flow into the well 31 where it is accumulated. Filling of the well raises the float 32 which in turn closes the valve 36 and emitting of water through the spray head is thus prevented until the water in the well is evaporated permitting the float to drop and thereby again open the valve and thus again supply'the spray head with water.

In the modified spray head construction of Figures 5 to '7 inclusive, the spray head 13a is detachably supported on the truncated cone '75 which is secured to the water inlet pipe 15 to which is screwed the spray nozzle 21. The spray head is provided with a plurality of horizontal slots 14 forming spray emitting windows or openings and spaced from each other by the vertical integrally formed posts '76. These openings are closed by a tensional sliding split collar 77 forming an adjustable shutter for he spray emitting windows whereby these openings may be adjustably opened or closed for varying the amount of the spray emitted therethrough. Mounted upon the truncated cone '75 is a vertically disposed member for supporting a screw threaded axially; adjustable bafile '25 for controlling and assisting the spraying of the water passing through the windows 14.

In the modified spray head shown in Figures 8 to 11 inclusive, the spray head is divided into two separable units 13 and 13" each provided with engaging lugs 80, 81, the lugs 81 frictionally telescoping within the lugs for adjustably controlling the width of the spray emitting windows 14. Screens of the character shown and described in connection with Figures 1 to 4 inclusive may, if desired, likewise be used in conjunction with either or both of the modified spray heads shown and described in Figures 5 to 11 inclusive.

It will thus be seen that while the furnace is in operation humidified air is constantly being supplied to the rooms of the building, either directly by the sprayed water from the spray head or by evaporation of the accumulated water within the well and that the humidifying device herein shown and described is economical to manufacture, can be readily installed and is serviceable in use.

While but several specific embodiments of this invention have been herein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of the constructions shown may be altered or omit-. ted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

1. In a humidifying device, a hollow cylindrical member having a water spray emitting window intermediate it's ends and provided with a drip apertu're, a valved water inlet conduit leading to the cylindrical member and connected with a spray nozzle within said cylindrical member, an adjustablewater baffle within said cylindrical member for efiecting the spraying of the water, a tubular screen within said cylindrical member for assisting in effecting the spraying of the water as it passes through said window, a drip pan disposed beneath said cylindrical member for receiving the drip from said drip aperture and provided with a well for accumulating said drip, and a float within said well operable by the amount of water therein and operatively connected with said valve to close said valve when the water within the well is at a given level and for opening the valve when the water therein is at a different level.

2. In a humidifying device, a valve spray head, a drip-pan having a downwardly inclined bottom disposed beneath said spray head and provided with a well at its lower end, and a float within said'well' operatively connected with said valve.

3;. In a humidifying device for a hot air furnace, a valved spray head adapted to be mounted within the hot air chamber of a furnace and to be connected with a water supply source, a drip pan having a downwardly inclined bottom disposed beneath said spray head and provided with a water well at its lower end for accumulating the water drip upon said pan, and a float within said well operable by the amount of water therein and operatively connected with said valve to close saidvalve when thewater within the well is at a given level and for opening the valve when the water therein is at a different level.

- 4. In a humidifying device for a hot air furnace, a valved spray head adapted to be mounted within thehot air chamber of a furnace and to be connected with a water supply source, a drip pan having a downwardly inclined bottom disposed beneath said spray head and provided with a water well, at its lower end for accumulating the water drip upon said pan, and a float within said well operable by the amount of water therein andoperatively connected with said valve to close said valve when the water within the well is at a given high level and for opening the, valve when the water therein is at a given low level.

5. The combination with a hot air furnace, of a humidifying device comprising a valved water spray head mounted-within the hot air chamber of said furnace and connected with an outside water supply source, a drip pan having a downwardly inclined bottom disposed beneath said spray head and provided with a water well at its lower end for accumulating the water drip upon said pan, and a float within said well operable by the amount of water therein and operatively connected with said valve to close said valve when the water within the well is at a given high level and for opening the valve when the water therein is at a given low level.

6. In a humidifying device, a valved spray head provided with a drip aperture, a drip pan having a downwardly inclined bottom disposed beneath saidspray head for receiving the drip from said spray head and provided with a well at its lower end for accumulating said drip, and a float within said well operatively connected with said valve.

7.. In a humidifying device for a hot air furnace,

a valved spray head provided with a drip aperture and adapted to be mounted within the hot air chamber of a furnace and to be connected with a water supply source, a drip pan having a downwardly inclined bottom disposed beneath said spray head for receiving the drip from said spray head and provided with a water well at its lower end for accumulating the water drip upon said pan, and a float within said well operable by the amount of water therein and operatively connected with said valve to close said valve when the water within the well is at a given level and for opening the valve when the water therein is at a diiferent level. Y

- CHARLES 0. WILSON. 

